Kabanata 9
Forgive
Pumasok kami sa study. Isa iyon sa bahagi ng mismong block na ginagawang opisina ni Papa kapag nandito siya. Ngayon, ang dalawa kong pinsan na ang nagdala sa akin doon. I sat on my father's swivel chair while both were in front of me standing and looking like predators.
Sinimangutan kong pareho ang dalawa. Roscoe looked dark, his wavy hair longer than usual, wearing khaki pants, brown boots, and a white v-neck t-shirt. Mas malapit naman si Beau, na nasa harap na ng lamesa ko, malinis ang gupit, siguro para sa kasal. He was still wearing his black slacks and white dress shirt. It seems like he's ready for work even on vacation.
"Happy now that your plans are working? Covering up all my scandals?!" patuya kong sinabi.
"In the first place, why did you let yourself be involved in those scandals, Schuyler?"
"And this is the best advice you can give my father?"
Natahimik ang dalawa, nakatingin sa akin.
"Kung kayong dalawa ang pilitin na mag-asawa sa hindi n'yo kilala at hindi n'yo gusto, kakayanin n'yo ba?!"
At first I thought they both realized what's happening. I thought there was remorse. Kaya lang, unti-unti silang nagkibit ng balikat na parang wala lang ang lahat.
"If it is for the betterment of the company and the woman is not bad, I don't mind," Beau's heartless reply.
"That's enough!" si Roscoe.
"Which won't happen to any of you because you'd do anything to break your father's records and marry whoever you like!" I said seething with anger.
Natawa si Beau. Agad siyang sinipat ni Roscoe.
"E 'di sana ginawa mo rin iyon para maagapan ito, hindi ba? Pero hindi mo ginawa, imbes ay sinira mo lalo ang pangalan mo. We won't let you ruin your name irrevocably."
I gritted my teeth. Bakit ko nga pala biglaang nakakalimutan ang ugali ng dalawang ito? Marriage is just paper to them. They don't understand what it entails. Hindi ba iyan naman ang dahilan kung bakit wala rin silang sineseryosong babae?
Marriage is just paper so they won't understand what am I so upset about.
"Kung ayaw mo talaga, you can always file for a divorce after this. Just when your scandals are cleared up."
"I was raised by my mother to get by with or without a man, and yet here I am with you two... who both thinks I will need a man to clear my name?" punong puno ng hinagpis kong sinabi.
Umiling si Beau. "This is not about that, Sky. Kung ako rin ang nagkaroon ng malaking eskandalo at ang tanging makakatuwid na lang ay ang mag-asawa, gagawin ko. This goes for both men and women. It's just that, between us, you're the one with the scandals, and it's your name that's at stake."
"Huwag mo nang banggitin ito sa mga kapatid mo. They are both worried but I think Tito Brandon is serious about this," si Roscoe.
Wala akong magawa kundi ang diinan lang ang titig ko para sa dalawa.
"You will have an option in the end, anyway. It's not the end of your world. You can divorce him after everything. Nobody will force you to stay with him."
"Mr. Solarez is a good man. And he knows that you two are just going to end it in time."
Sinimangutan ko ang dalawa. Palibhasa kalahi rin nila si Royce kaya iniisip nila okay lang.
I realized then there is just really no hope. Hindi ba matagal ko na rin namang naiisip 'to kaya bakit pa ako mag-eeffort na ipaglaban pa ito ngayon?
